System and method for importing location information and policies as part of a rich presence environment

ABSTRACT

A system and method are described herein that includes a presence server which is capable of notifying a watcher about a location of a person using a rich presence element in accordance with security and privacy rules specified by the person. In the preferred embodiment, the system uses a read/write RFID tag and RFID reader as well as a presence server to collect, store and distribute location information as a presence element to the watcher. To accomplish this, the user data and program carrying capability of the read/write RFID tag is used to push to the presence server not only location information but also policies and rules established by the user to control the distribution of the location information as a presence element to watchers. The location policy rules can be made and controlled by the user and/or a third party. The location policies and rules are separate from the traditional and less stringent presence policies and rules used by the presence server to control the distribution other types of presence information like information about the status of a person&#39;s communication devices to the watchers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a system and method thatincludes a presence server capable of notifying a watcher (e.g., teamleader) about a location of a person (e.g., team member) using a richpresence element in accordance with security and privacy rules specifiedby the person.

2. Description of Related Art

As shown in FIG. 1, an existing presence server 100 is shown which iscoupled to a user agent 102 sends rich presence information 104 to awatcher 106 (e.g., team leader 106) so as to notify the watcher 106 forexample about the status of communication devices like a phone and/or acomputer used by a person 108 (e.g., team member 108). In this way, thewatcher 106 can tell if the person 108 is currently working on theircomputer or talking on their phone before trying to contact that person108. However, the presence server 100 does not send information aboutthe current location of the person 108 to the watcher 106. Instead, alocation server 110 is needed to send location information 112 about theperson 108 to the watcher 106. In a typical network, the location server110 obtains location information 112 from a RFID reader 114 (only oneshown) that is located in a particular area of an office building/workenvironment/hospital (for example) which receives a unique identifier116 from an RFID tag 118 carried by the person 108. The RFID reader 114can use IEEE802.11 (or similar standard) to establish wirelesscommunications with the RFID tag 118 and then read the unique identifier116 which enables the determination of the current position 112 of theperson 108 within the office building/work environment/hospital (forexample). The RFID reader 114 sends this information via a local areanetwork (LAN) 120 for example to the location server 110 which organizesand stores the location information 112 in database 122 so it can bereported to the watcher 102.

It would be desirable if there was a way of eliminating the need to usethe location server 110 and instead enable the presence server 100 toreceive and organize the location information 112 in a database 123 soit can be sent as a rich presence element along with the other presenceelements 104 to the watcher 106. This was not possible in the pastbecause the location server 110 has a location manager 124 with alocation rule holder 126 that contains requirements/rules for securityand privacy which indicates whether or not the location information 112should be sent to the watcher 106 in the first place that are much morestringent than the requirements/rules stored in a general presence ruleholder 128 of a preference manager 130 used by the presence server 100to determine whether or not to send rich presence elements 104 to thewatcher 106. This problem is solved by the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes a system and method that includes apresence server capable of notifying a watcher about a location of aperson using a rich presence element in accordance with security andprivacy rules specified by the person. In the preferred embodiment, thesystem uses a read/write RFID tag and RFID reader as well as a presenceserver to collect, store and distribute location information as apresence element to the watcher. To accomplish this, the user data andprogram carrying capability of the read/write RFID tag is used to pushto the presence server not only location information but also policiesand rules established by the user to control the distribution of thelocation information as a presence element to watchers. The locationpolicy rules can be made and controlled by the user and/or a thirdparty. The location policies and rules are separate from the traditionaland less stringent presence policies and rules used by the presenceserver to control the distribution of other types of presenceinformation like information about the status of a person'scommunication devices to the watchers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be obtainedby reference to the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) is a diagram of a traditional system that uses apresence server and a location server to respectively send presenceinformation (e.g., status of communication devices) and locationinformation about a person (e.g., team member) to a watcher (e.g., teamleader);

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a system that uses a presence server to send apresence element including presence information (e.g., status ofcommunication devices) and location information about a person (e.g.,team member) to a watcher (e.g., team leader); and

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the basic steps of a preferred method forcommunicating a presence element including presence information (e.g.,status of communication devices) and location information about a person(e.g., team member) to a watcher (e.g., team leader) in accordance withthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to FIG. 2, there is a diagram of a system 200 having apresence server 202 which can send a presence element 212 that includespresence information 206 (e.g., status of communication devices) and/orlocation presence information 208 about a person 210 (e.g., team member210) to a watcher 214 (e.g., team leader 214, fellow team member 214).In the preferred embodiment, the person 210 (only one shown) carries aread/write RFID tag 216 around with them in an office building/workenvironment/hospital (for example) in which there is distributed anumber of RFID readers 218 (only one shown). The read/write RFID tag 216is a dynamic data/program carrier which means the person 210 or companypersonnel etc. . . . can add or change the data or programs stored inthe RFID tag 216.

The read/write RFID tag 216 in the preferred embodiment has severalfields including: (1) an identifier field 220 a; (2) a rule field 220 b;and (3) a program field 220 c. The identifier field 220 a stores aunique personal identifier 222 and other information that are read bythe RFID reader 218. The rule field 220 b is a static field that storesrules 224 related to the handling or distribution of locationinformation 208 to the watchers 214. For instance, a static rule 224 canbe set such that no watchers 214 are to be notified about the locationof the person 210 if he/she is location in a restroom. And, the programfield 220 c is a dynamic field that stores various codes/programs 226related to the handling or distribution of the location information 208to the watchers 214. For instance, the program field 220 c can storeprograms 226 that are executed only if read by a particular RFID reader218 or read by certain ones of the RFID readers 210. Each program 226contains rules on which if any watchers 214 should be notified about thelocation of the person 210 depending on certain conditions like the day,time and position of person 210 within the building . . . when theread/write RFID tag 216 is read by one of the RFID readers 218. In oneexample, the person 210 may input a program 226 that has the conditionswhere only watchers 214 that happen to be a team leader 214 a or teammembers 214 b can be notified as to their location at any time and anyday if they are located in their office or a laboratory. However, theperson 218 can also set the program 226 so it has conditions where awatcher 214 that happens to be a customer 214 c will only be notifiedduring normal business hours if they happen to be located in theiroffice. Of course, there are many different programs 226 that coverdifferent situations which can be stored in the program field 226 thatare created by the person 210 and/or third parties such as the boss ofthe person 210.

The RFID reader 218 can use IEEE802.11 (or similar standard) toestablish wireless communications with the RFID tag 216. The RFID reader218 then reads the tag information including the unique personalidentifier 222 and the policy preferences 224 and 226. The RFID reader218 sends this unprocessed information 222, 224 and 226 via a LAN 230 orother network like the Internet to a user agent 232. It should be notedthat one company for example can have many RFID readers 218 located inmany different buildings located around the world that all sendunprocessed information 222, 224 and 226 from RFID tags 216 carried bypeople 210 to a centrally located user agent 232. This way the watchers214 can be notified about the location of people 210 in many differentbuildings located around the world.

The user agent 232 includes a RFID system network manager 233 thatprocesses the information 222, 224 and 226 and generates the locationinformation 208 and the policy preferences 234 which relates to thedistribution of the location information 208 to the watchers 214. Theuser agent 232 sends the processed location information 208 and theprocessed policy preferences 234 to the presence server 202.Alternatively, the RFID system network manager 233 can be located remotefrom the user agent 232.

The presence server 202 includes a preference manager 236 that storesthe policy preferences 234 in a private location rule holder 238. Thepresence server 202 also includes a database 240 that stores thelocation information 208. In addition, the presence server 202 receivesother presence information 206 about the person 210 like whether or nottheir communication devices such as a phone and a computer are currentlybeing used. This presence information 206 is stored in the database 240and various policies and rules 242 associated with the distribution ofthis information 206 to the watchers 214 is stored in a general presencerule holder 244 of the preference manager 236. Typically, the policypreferences 234 stored in the private location rule holder 238 are morestringent than the policies and rules 242 stored in the general presencerule holder 244. In other words, the watcher 214 is more likely to besent presence information 206 than being sent the location information208.

The presence server 202 sends the presence element 212 which includesthe presence information 206 and/or the location information 208 aboutthe person 210 (e.g., team member 210) to the watchers 214 in accordancewith the policy preferences 234 and 242. To receive the presence element212, each watcher 214 needs to subscribe with the presence server 202indicating that they want to obtain the location presence information208 and the other presence information 206 from one or more persons 210.Again, it is possible that one watcher 214 a (team leader 214 a) canreceive a presence element 212 that contains both the presenceinformation 206 (status of the communication devices used by the person210) and the location information 208. And, it is also possible thatanother watcher 214 c (customer 214 c) can receive a presence element212 that contains the presence information 206 (status of thecommunication devices used by the person 210) but not the locationinformation 208. Essentially, the presence server 202 notifies each ofthe watchers 214 about the presence information 206 and the locationinformation 208 based on the policy preferences 234 and 242 stored inthe preference manager 236.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is a flowchart of the basic steps of thepreferred method 300 for communicating location presence information 208to a watcher 214 in accordance with the present invention. Beginning atstep 302, the person 210 carries the read/write RFID tag 216 around withthem in an office building/work environment/hospital (for example) inwhich there is distributed one or more RFID readers 218. Prior tocarrying the RFID tag 216, the person 210 and/or a third party programsthe read/write RFID tag 216 to store policy information 224 and 226 onhow and if location information 208 about the person 210 is to bedistributed to the watchers 214.

At step 304, one or more of the RFID readers 218 communicates with andreads the unique personal identifier 222 and the policy preferences 224and 226 stored in the read/write RFID tag 216 as the person 210 moveswithin a building. In one embodiment, the RFID reader 218 can useIEEE802.11 (or similar standard) to establish wireless communicationswith the RFID tag 216. The RFID reader 218 sends the unprocessedinformation 222, 224 and 226 via the LAN 230 or other network like theInternet to the user agent 232.

At step 306, the user agent 232 which includes the RFID system networkmanager 233 processes the information 222, 224 and 226 and generates thelocation presence information 208 and policy preferences 234.

At step 308, the user agent 232 sends the processed location information208 and the processed policy preferences 234 to the presence server 202.The preference manager 236 stores the policy preferences 234 in aprivate location rule holder 238. And, the database 240 stores thelocation information 208. The presence server 202 also receives otherpresence information 206 about the person 210 like whether or not theircommunication devices such as a phone and/or a computer are currentlybeing used. This presence information 206 is stored in the database 240and the various policies and rules 242 associated with the distributionof this information 206 is stored in a general presence rule holder 244of the preference manager 236.

At step 310, the presence server 202 distributes the presence element212 which includes the presence information 206 and/or the locationpresence information 208 about the person 210 to the watchers 214 inaccordance with the policy preferences 234 and 242. In order to receivethe presence element 212, each watcher 214 needs to first subscribe withthe presence server 202 indicating that they want to obtain the locationpresence information 208 and the other presence information 206 from oneor more persons 210. Again, it is possible that one watcher 214 (e.g.,team leader 214 a) can receive a presence element 212 that contains boththe presence information 206 (status of the communication devices usedby the person 210) and the location information 208. And, anotherwatcher 214 (e.g., customer 214 c) can receive a presence element 212that contains only the presence information 206 (status of thecommunication devices used by the person 210) and not the locationinformation 208.

As described above, the presence server 202 can obtain and distributelocation information 208 as part of rich presence element 212 based onsecurity and privacy rules 234 specified by users 210. The delivery ofaccurate location information 208 as part of a principal's rich presenceenvironment can in one application for example enhance the communicationamong co-operating team members. For instance, project members in anenterprise and health care workers in a hospital can facilitate theirface-to-face communication, instant conferencing and message relayingcapabilities through the knowledge of the whereabouts of fellow teammembers. As proposed herein, the team members 214 carry RFID tags 216and RFID readers 218 are installed in selected areas of the work placein order to obtain the location information 208, policy preference 234and identity of team members 210. This information is passed to the useragent 232 of the principal through the office LAN 230 or other networkto be published as part of his/her presence in the presence server 202.The presence server 202 distributes the location information 208 to teammembers 214 in accordance with the policy preferences 234. An exemplaryoperation could be implemented as follows:

-   -   The RFID reader 218 in the room where the person 210 (principal        210) is currently located reads the unique identifier 222 of the        person 210. Additional data and programs 224 and 226 are also        read for later management use in the presence server 202.    -   This information 222, 224 and 226 is passed to the user agent        232. The user agent 232 processes this information 222, 224 and        226 and pushes the location information 208 and policy        preferences 234 to the presence server 202.    -   The presence server 202 distributes the changing location        information 208 in accordance with the preference rules 234 of        the person 210 to his/her team members 214 who have subscribed        to be his/her presence watchers.

It should also be noted that the read/write RFID tag 216 can alsoincorporate a global positioning system (GPS) unit (not shown). In thisway, a third party can track the location of the person 210 who happensto be carrying the read/write RFID tag 216 when they are outside of therange of the RFID readers 218. This location information can be sent tothe presence server 202 and distributed to the watchers 214 inaccordance with the policy preferences 234.

From the foregoing, it should be readily appreciated by those skilled inthe art that the system 200 and method 300 of the present inventionincludes a presence server 202 capable of notifying a watcher 214 abouta location 208 of a person 210 using a rich presence element 212 inaccordance with security and privacy rules 234 specified by the person210. In the preferred embodiment, the system 200 uses a read/write RFIDtag 216 and RFID reader 218 as well as a presence server 202 to collect,store and distribute location information 208 as a presence element 212to the watcher 214. To accomplish this, the user data and programcarrying capability of the read/write RFID tag 216 is used to push tothe presence server 202 not only location information 208 but alsopolicies and rules 234 established by the user 210 to control thedistribution of the location information 208 as a presence element 212to watchers 214. The location policy rules 234 can be made andcontrolled by the user 210 and/or a third party. The location policiesand rules 234 are separate from the traditional and less stringentpresence policies and rules 242 used by the presence server 202 tocontrol the distribution of other types of presence information 206 likeinformation about the status of a person's communication devices to thewatchers 214.

It should be appreciated that this joint pushing of location information208 and rules 234 to the presence server 202 has several advantages someof which are described below:

-   -   Enable the use of location information in a rich presence        environment without a need to develop the location service        infrastructure.    -   Enables the creation of dynamic policies using the        programmability of read/write RFID tags.    -   Enables the creation of location information 208 that has a        short life for privacy. In other words, the watcher 214 is sent        only current location information 208.    -   Enables the generation of pseudonyms on demand, if required for        privacy and security.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated inthe accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing DetailedDescription, it should be understood that the invention is not limitedto the embodiment disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements,modifications and substitutions without departing from the spirit of theinvention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

1. A network for communicating location presence information towatchers, said network comprising: a plurality of read/writeradio-frequency identification (RFID) tags attached to a plurality ofpersons, each of the read/write RFID tags stores a unique personalidentifier and policy preferences on distribution of the locationpresence information; a plurality of location based RFID readers, eachof the RFID readers for communicating with one or more of the RFID tagsand reading the stored unique personal identifiers and the stored policypreferences; a user agent for generating the location presenceinformation by processing the unique personal identifiers and the policypreferences received from the RFID readers; and a presence server forcollecting the location presence information from the user agent and fordistributing the location presence information to the watchers inaccordance with the policy preferences.
 2. The network of claim 1,wherein said presence server also collects other presence informationabout the plurality of persons.
 3. The network of claim 2, wherein saidpresence server further includes: a preference manager that includes: aprivate location rules holder for storing the policy preferences; and ageneral presence rule holder for storing policy preferences associatedwith the distribution of the other presence information; and a databasefor storing the location presence information and the other presenceinformation.
 4. The network of claim 1, wherein each read/write RFID tagincludes: an identifier field; a static rule field; and a dynamicprogram field.
 5. The network of claim 1, wherein each read/write RFIDtag includes a global positioning system (GPS) unit.
 6. The network ofclaim 1, wherein each watcher subscribes with said presence server toobtain the location presence information from one or more of thepersons.
 7. The network of claim 1, wherein said user agent and saidpresence server communicate with one another over a Local Area Network(LAN).
 8. A method for communicating location presence information towatchers, said method comprising the steps of: attaching a read/writeradio-frequency identification (RFID) tag to a person where theread/write RFID tag stores a unique personal identifier and policypreferences on distribution of the location presence information;reading the unique personal identifier and the policy preferences storedin the read/write RFID tag; generating the location presence informationby processing the unique personal identifier and the policy preferencesreceived from the RFID reader; collecting and storing the locationpresence information and the policy preferences; and distributing thelocation presence information to the watchers in accordance with thepolicy preferences.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising thesteps of collecting and storing other presence information about theperson and distributing the other presence information to the watchers.10. The method of claim 8, wherein a presence server collects, storesand distributes the location presence information in accordance with thepolicy preferences.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said presenceserver includes: a preference manager that includes: a private locationrules holder for storing the policy preferences; and a general presencerule holder for storing policy preferences associated with thedistribution of the other presence information; and a database forstoring the location presence information and the other presenceinformation.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein each watcher subscribeswith said presence server to obtain the location presence informationfrom one or more of the persons.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein saidread/write RFID tag includes: an identifier field; a static rule field;and a dynamic program field.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein saidread/write RFID tag includes a global positioning system (GPS) unit. 15.A presence server capable of importing location information and policyinformation on how to distribute the location information to watchersfrom a radio-frequency identification (RFID) system network manager thatdetermines the location of a person carrying a read/write RFID tag afterreceiving unprocessed location information and unprocessed policyinformation from a RFID reader that obtained a unique personalidentifier and the unprocessed policy information stored on theread/write RFID tag.
 16. The presence server of claim 15, furthercomprising: a preference manager for storing the policy information; anda database for storing the location information.
 17. The presence serverof claim 16, wherein said preference manager follows the stored policyinformation when using a rich presence element to notify the watchersabout the location of the person.
 18. A read/write radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) RFID tag that is attached to a person and stores aunique personal identifier and policy preferences that are read by aRFID reader and then processed and published to a presence server thatnotifies watchers about a current location of the person based on thepolicy preferences.
 19. The read/write RFID tag of claim 18, furthercomprising a global positioning system (GPS) unit.
 20. The read/writeRFID tag of claim 18, wherein said person inputs the policy preferences.